On Dec. 23, Science and ICT Minister Yoo Sang-im stressed the urgent need to prepare for the commercialization of quantum technologies during a press briefing near the Government Complex Sejong. “Quantum technology, once realized, will have a profound impact,” Yoo said, emphasizing that South Korea lags behind competitors in talent and ecosystem development. “We must focus more on attracting and nurturing talent,” he added, warning that inaction could leave the nation trailing in global competition.
Despite Yoo’s call for urgency, South Korea’s policies on quantum technology remain stalled. The Quantum Strategy Committee, envisioned as the top decision-making body for quantum science and technology, has yet to launch. Broader strategies for emerging technologies like biotechnology, artificial intelligence (AI), and quantum computing have also been delayed due to a leadership vacuum caused by the ongoing political crisis.
KAIST professor Choi Jae-sik cautioned, “The control towers overseeing advanced technologies that will shape the country’s future should not be hindered by political conflicts.”
The government has identified biotechnology, quantum technology, AI, and semiconductors as “game-changing technologies” poised to redefine global markets. However, national committees for these fields remain delayed or inactive.
Among the planned committees, only the Presidential Committee on AI, launched in September, has made progress. Meanwhile, the National Bio Committee, chaired by the president, and the Quantum Strategy Committee, led by the prime minister, were expected to launch this month but have been indefinitely postponed. Some experts warn that their launches could be delayed until late 2025—or abandoned altogether—depending on the political climate.
The National Bio Committee was designed to support pharmaceutical and biotech R&D, aiming to foster blockbuster drugs generating over 1 trillion won in annual sales. However, its future is now uncertain, raising concerns about the government’s ability to fully execute its 2.1 trillion won biotech R&D budget for next year.
A biotech industry insider noted, “With the U.S., the world’s largest biotech market, now under new leadership, Korea urgently needs active policy intervention. The lack of a control tower, combined with rising exchange rates, is dealing a severe blow to the industry.”
Similarly, the Quantum Strategy Committee faces delays despite global advancements in quantum technology. Although enabling legislation took effect last month, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s dual role as acting president has deprioritized its launch. Internal meetings to discuss the committee’s formation were reportedly postponed twice this month following the declaration of martial law.
Meanwhile, international competitors are surging ahead. Google recently unveiled its next-generation quantum chip, “Willow,” while China announced the development of its “Zuchongzhi 3.0″ chip, demonstrating comparable breakthroughs.
The Presidential Committee on AI is also grappling with budget constraints for 2025. Since its launch in September—after the government’s budget proposal was submitted to the National Assembly—the committee failed to secure funding. Although lawmakers considered additional resources, those efforts ultimately fell short.
Minister Yoo indicated during the briefing that AI would be prioritized in a supplementary budget, but challenges persist. The committee still lacks a fully operational website, and its future funding depends on the passage of the AI Framework Act in the National Assembly, which would grant it permanent legal status.
The space industry, which saw promising developments earlier this year with the launch of the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), is also facing uncertainty. A KASA official confirmed on Dec. 23 that the third meeting of the National Space Committee, initially scheduled for this month, has been postponed indefinitely.
President Yoon Suk-yeol chaired the committee’s inaugural meeting in May, followed by a working-level session last month. The third session, intended to discuss South Korea’s first lunar lander project, was to include President Yoon and other key officials. Many of these officials, however, are now sidelined by impeachment proceedings.
“There are critical issues piling up, so we hope to convene the meeting early next year,” a KASA representative said. “However, it’s difficult to predict when that will happen.”
